I found it extremely amusing that the other night as I was working on an evening photoshoot with my shady character I was briefly questioned by the police. I must be doing something right here.
One thing that I have noticed is that your shady character is almost always facing the camera as though he is interacting with it and also has he face exposed. I wonder what would happen if he were turned away or looking at something else. The photos I have seen it appears as though he is posing (which I know he is for your shoot) but what if you try to capture him without making him look posed? Sketchy people are not always paying direct attention to you, it is an element of paranoia that we have due to our stereotypes that make us feel like they're always looking at us. Also, maybe he could have a hoodie on so his face is partially or mostly covered, that adds to the element of sketchy. You don't really want to/try to get close to these sketchy people but a lot of your images are in close proximity.
I think the second image from the top is the most successful in this group of images because you have to pick him out, you have to try to find him and he looks less posed.
I think I am with Christine - Maybe your sketchy character would be more sketchy if he was interacting with someone or something else insetad of looking at your camera. I wonder if he could be stalking someone or something. That would be for-real sketchy instead of just stereotype sketchy. I think I still can't really see from your work what you are trying to do with the stereotypes, whether it be to reinforce them or fight them.
For what it's worth, I pretty much agree with the others. I think your images are interesting visually (in terms of content, composition, value range, etc.), but I would like to see some with the figure in less predictable positions. Also, the guy doesn't seem very "shady" to me at all. Maybe I would respond differently if I were looking at the actual printed images up close, I don't know... but if I saw this guy I would probably just say hi to him (maybe even make a comment about the weather?) and go about my business.
One thing that I have noticed is that your shady character is almost always facing the camera as though he is interacting with it and also has he face exposed. I wonder what would happen if he were turned away or looking at something else. The photos I have seen it appears as though he is posing (which I know he is for your shoot) but what if you try to capture him without making him look posed? Sketchy people are not always paying direct attention to you, it is an element of paranoia that we have due to our stereotypes that make us feel like they're always looking at us. Also, maybe he could have a hoodie on so his face is partially or mostly covered, that adds to the element of sketchy. You don't really want to/try to get close to these sketchy people but a lot of your images are in close proximity.
ReplyDeleteI think the second image from the top is the most successful in this group of images because you have to pick him out, you have to try to find him and he looks less posed.
I like the moodiness and atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteI think I am with Christine - Maybe your sketchy character would be more sketchy if he was interacting with someone or something else insetad of looking at your camera. I wonder if he could be stalking someone or something. That would be for-real sketchy instead of just stereotype sketchy. I think I still can't really see from your work what you are trying to do with the stereotypes, whether it be to reinforce them or fight them.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy your comment of having him stalk people lol. Seriously though, thanks guys this is extremely helpful.
ReplyDeleteFor what it's worth, I pretty much agree with the others. I think your images are interesting visually (in terms of content, composition, value range, etc.), but I would like to see some with the figure in less predictable positions. Also, the guy doesn't seem very "shady" to me at all. Maybe I would respond differently if I were looking at the actual printed images up close, I don't know... but if I saw this guy I would probably just say hi to him (maybe even make a comment about the weather?) and go about my business.
ReplyDelete